Unflappable students celebrated at '20s-themed Honors Banquet

Keerthana Krishnakumar Juttu doesn’t let moss grow under her feet.

The busy animation/programming student zips from one project to another in the Grand Canyon University Honors College as co-director of the Global Health Committee, ambassador in the Young Athena Valley of the Sun Leadership Program, and as a member of the Relationships Over Transactions taskforce in the Honors College’s RISE Fellowship program.

That collegiate go-getter spark started three years ago, in the waning days of the COVID-19 global pandemic, when she and her family were surprised at a Students Inspiring Students ceremony. That's when she leared she was a recipient of the full-tuition scholarship to attend GCU.

But perhaps no one should be surprised by her success at GCU, especially her parents, who moved to the United States from India eight years ago and who attended Monday’s Honors College Banquet at Global Credit Union Arena to watch Juttu receive one of the evening’s top honors: the Dean’s Award.

It seemed like the perfect affirmation for Juttu, whose real-life dreams might just exceed those dreamy animation films that inspired her to go to college and pursue an animation degree.

“I’m ecstatic – absolutely thrilled!” said Juttu after receiving the award. “I did not expect it to be me, and I’m so, so grateful that I got it. I’m so happy.”

Dr. Breanna Naegeli, dean of the Honors College, was at a conference in Chicago but presented the accolade via video. It was one award she said she “absolutely could not miss.”

Juttu “has taken on projects completely outside of her scope of what her major is because she is invested in learning and growing and giving back. She’s an absolute role model for all of our students here in the Honors community,” Naegeli said.

The Dean’s Award was just one of a slew of awards presented at the banquet, the culminating event of the year for the Honors College as it celebrates its 10^th anniversary in the same year the University is celebrating its 75^th anniversary.

Isa Joy Abbott, one of the student leaders in the Honors College, helped plan the banquet, whose theme this year was “Night of the Roaring 20s.”

“We put on the banquet to reflect on all the students who participated in Honors College programs,” Abbott said. “These students took the extra steps and were committed to weekly meetings and put in hours on end. … We just wanted to acknowledge and make sure the Honors College students are fully appreciated.”

Daniela Chavira took home two awards. She received the Distinguished Achievement Award alongside fellow recipients Ashley Larson, Karen Velazquez and Aaryanna Nelson.

She also was the education division winner in the Honors Showcase, held a few weeks ago. Her presentation in the showcase, in which students shared their research and projects with the campus community, was “Entiéndeme” (“Understand Me”): A Reflection on the Interdisciplinary Problems Surrounding Educational Models and English Language Acquisition.”

Chavira, student coordinator in the Multicultural Office, has come full circle since her start at GCU as a mechanical engineering major. She changed her major to psychology with a minor in pre-law after connecting with her passion to advocate for immigrants, Dreamers and first-generation students.

“It’s been an amazing four years at GCU,” said Chavira, who will be graduating in a little more than a week. “I’ve done a lot. … I’m really excited about the people I got to meet, the connections I got to make and the lasting impact I made,” Chavira said.

Other awards presented at the banquet were:

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